How to gathering research materials for a paper

information. Because of these differences, scholarly journals are more challenging to utopian society the giver essay read. (If you prefer the latter option, many office software packages include separate programs for recording bibliographic information.) Table.5 Details for Commonly Used Source Types shows the specific details you should record for commonly used source types. Thoughts and Actions: Follow the steps below to get an idea of things you should be thinking about and doing, and some of the strategies which will help. However, do not rely exclusively on direct"tions in your note taking. Sum up the main ideas in a source in a few sentences or a short paragraph. On the other hand, a research paper on elementary education practices might refer to studies published decades ago by influential child psychologists. Using Periodicals, Indexes, and Databases Library catalogs can help you locate book-length sources, as well as some types of nonprint holdings, such as CDs, DVDs, and audio books.

Print resources include a vast array of documents and publications. Other primary sources include the following: Research articles Literary texts Historical documents such as diaries or letters Autobiographies or other personal accounts Secondary sources discuss, interpret, analyze, consolidate, or otherwise rework information from primary sources. When using websites for research, check to see when the site was last updated. Typing a keyword or phrase into a search engine instantly pulls up links to dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of related websiteswhat could be easier? If the index you are using provides article summaries, read these to determine how useful the articles are likely. Are written for a much smaller and more expert audience. Using Other Information Sources: Interviews With so many print and electronic media readily available, it is easy to overlook another valuable information resource: other people. When faced with the challenge of writing a research paper, some students rely on popular search engines as their first source of information. The following are some of the electronic sources you might consult: Online databases CD-ROMs Popular web search engines Websites maintained by businesses, universities, nonprofit organizations, or government agencies Newspapers, magazines, and journals published on the web E-books Audio books Industry blogs Radio and television programs. Their content is usually quite accessible and easy to read. Almanacs, encyclopedias, atlases, medical reference books, and scientific abstracts are examples of reference works.